Elevator car



W. H. HIMES May 9, 1933.

ELEVATOR CAR Filed Dec. 20, l929 5 Sheets-Sheet l s e V R .m u m m E T mr .m e 4 7 e Y 3 z a B W w a a w m; 7 9 H W 4 a a 3 5 w 7 a 4 a a z a uW. H. HIMES ELEVATOR CAR May 9, 1933.

Filed Dec. 20 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR h/a/'erH. H/rnes.

AITTORNEY W. H. HIMES ELEVATOR CAR May 9, 1933.

Filed Dec. 20, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV E NTO R h/a/fer H. iii/nes.

'ATTORNEY Patented May 9, 1933 N N umre) STATES PATenr FFICE i i. .wAmmH.. HIMns, oF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR rownsmmerronsn jneserme& :aAn'nrAc'rUmnG oonenm, A'CORPORATION onrnnnsvnvnnm ELEVATORCAR Application filed December 20,' 1929. Serial No. %15,481.

i s `lVlyinvention relates to elevator cars, pari i ticularlyrtoelevator'cars for freight service and more particularly to suchconstructon uoffreght elevator cars as to impartinher- 5:ent rigiditythereto, andspecifically to the 'Construction of a` freight `elevator car 111 swhich interfastened i members connect diagonally opposite corners of thecar platform to edfect inherent rigidity of the car.

4 u In' freight e'levators, it has long `been a r: recognized problem toconstrnct a car in such manner as` to resist the `distorton effectscaused `n synntnetralloading of the car platformu* With the recentadvent of automobile par-King and storage buildings, in which theautomobiles are elevated to upper orlower floors of the building;designersof elevator cars have again been confronted with this problem;Heretofore,` the platforme for i -ele'vator cars have been of agrid-like constrnction,` that is; of a Construction comprsi\ ring aquadrangular frame having cross members connecting opposite sides of'theframe i i and (lisposed perpendicular thereto. The rigidity of suchplatform for elevator cars,

' `while perhaps sufi icient for passenger elevator cars, has beeninsufiicient to resist the --warpingefect on the platform caused by theunsymmetricalloading thereof. This lack of-igidity of theelevatorplatform of the i old grd type is a serious problem in amultiple-car platform on which two or more automobiles are to be loadedside by side and an automoble enters the car platform entirely to oneside of the platform@ center line. The i platform, as well as the entireelevator car, is distorted, and the vertical braces oneach side of theelevator car, known in the art as u te clevator car itself which hashitherto never obtained in any of the elevator car structures. By reasonof the specified structure, an equal distribution of stresses on theguide rals and stile members et each end of the elevator car is effectedand a reduction in the wear onthe guide rails and on the stile membersis ensured.

The use of members connecting` diagonally opposite corners of anelevator platform presented the additional problem incidentto theefecting of the joinderof a third member *thereto, that is, the joinderof the safetyplatform member and` the two intersecting members connectngdiagonally opposite corne's at the point of intersection of thevlattertwo members n a practical and economical way without sacrficmg any of'the strength of the joint, and my invention discloses a solutionthereof. j

It is, therefore, the objectof my ,invention to construct an elevatoncarplatform which has its diagonally opposite corners connected i byinterfastened members to impart an inherent rigdty to both the platformand the elevator car itself, and an` equal dstrbuton of theloadingstresses between the guide rails -which engage the stilemembers of theelevator car.

Another object of my invention is to so eifect the intersection oftwostructural members as to permit j oinng a third structural member tothem at the intersection thereof without sacrificingany of the strengthofthe joint at such intersection. i i

. The mventon, both` as'` to its organization i and its method ofoperation, together with addtional objects` and advantages thereof, willbest be understood by reference to the i accompanyng drawings in whichFgure l is a perspective view showing an elevator car constructedaccording to the principles of my invention and positioned in a hatchwaywithin which it moves;

Fg. 2 is a perspective view of one' of the structural members connectingdiagonally i opposite corners of the elevatorcar platform,

portions of the structural .members being cut away` in order to eifect aonder wih the shown in Fg 2, and

.Fig. 4 is a composte perspective view of the structural members shownin Figs. 2

and 3, and shows the manner in which the safety platform members passthrough the intersection 'of those two members;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View illustrating, by solid and broken lines,respectively, the unloaded and the loaded positions of an elevator carhaving no members connecting diagonally opposite corners of the carplatform, and I 1 Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View illustratng, by solidand broken lines, respectvely, the unloaded and loaded positions of anelevator car having interfastened members connecting diagonally oppositecorners of the car platform.

In Fig. 1, is shown an elevator car 5 n a hatchway comprisng verticallydisposed structural members 6 held in spaced relation to each other bythe horizontally disposed structural members 7. The elevator car 5comprises a platform defined by structural members 8, welded, bolted orotherwise suitably fastened together to constitute a quadrangular frameand members 9 and 10 which connect diagonally opposite corners of thequadrangular frame defined by the members 8, and angle bar members 11constitutng an additional support between members 8 and the intersectingmembers 9 and 10. The members 9 and 10 are suitably fastened togetherand to the members 8 at the corners of the quadrangular frame in asuitable manner, such as by welding or bolting'. Portions of the members9 and 10 are cut away, as shown in Figs. 3 and 2, respectively, so thatthey may fit together. That is, the lower fiange 16 of themember 10 iscut away at 15 to receive the lower flange 35 of the member 9, and a'slot 13 is cut in the web 12 perpendicularly to the flange 16 so thatits opposite sides engage opposite sides of the web 14 of the member 9.The upper flange 18 of the member 9 is cut away, as shown at 17, in Fig.3, to receive the upper flange 36 of member 10.

A rectangular hole 19 is cut in the web 12 of the member 10 and is solocated that two opposite sides are parallel to the flanges of thatmember. A similar rectangular hole 20 is'cut in the web 14 of the member9 and is correspondingly located.

Channel members 21 and 22, constituting a safety plank 37, extendthroughthe opening formed by the holes 19 and 20 at the intersection of the twomembers i 9 and 10, as shown in Fig. 4. The two members 9 and 10 aresuitably fastened together, either by welding along the edges of thejoint or by other suitable means, as well as being welded to thesafety-platform channel members 21 and 22 and the members 8 of thequadrangular frame.

The safety-plank channel members 21 and 22 project beyond the members 8at opposite ends of the quadrangular frame and their opposite ends areattached, respectively, as by welding or boltng, to vertically disposedchannel members 23 and 24, technically known in the art as stiles.

Bracing members 25 rigidly connect the top of the stile 23 to thecorners of the quadrangular frame on the same end of the elevator car tomaintain the former in perpendicular relation to the member 8.

Bracng members 26 rigidly connect the top of the stile 24 to corners ofthe quadrangular frame at the same end of the car to support the formerin perpendicular relaton to the member 8 at that end.

A cross head 27, comprising the channel members 28 and 29, serves toconnect the top ends of the stiles 23 and 24 rigidly together.

The stiles 23 and 24 are lined with a suitable bearing material (notshown) to engage the vertically disposed guides 30 and 31, re-

spectively, which are attached to the members' 7 constituting portionsof the hatchway, to l guide the elevator car 5 in its up and downmovements.

A cable 32 is suitably attached to the cross head 27, passes over a drumof the driving motor (not shown) and is suitably fastened to acounterweight 33 which engages guides 34 to move up and down in avertical path.

In order to fully understand the basic prmciple of my invention, ananalysis of the loaded and the unloaded positions of the elevator carand the various structural members comprising it will be set forth.Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, which are diagrammatic views representing,respectively, anelevator car without and with interfastened members 9and 10 connecting diagonally opposite corners of the car platform.Corresponding members in the two figures are designated by the samenumerals and, in both figures, these numerals correspond to those usedfor corresponding members represented in Fig. 1.

For the purpose of analysis, let it be assumed that a concentrated loadW is impressed downwardly at one corner of the carplatform framecomprising members 8, as indicated in Fig. 5, representing anunsymmetrical loading of the platform.

Such an unsymmetrica-l loading may occur when the front wheels of anautomobile rest on the car entirely at one side of the center line ofthe platform, in being driven thereon,

'or when the rear wheels of the automobile in' Fig. 5. Because of thefact that struci ::lcavngsitg or when thei automobile isentirely' aonthe platform whollyat one side of. theplat i iio-rm s` scenter line,` ori when the automobila; being whollyon the platform in a position,- 5^notentirely at one sideof theplatfornrs mcenterswline, of such character asto'effect i ;unequalloads upon thezfront andarearxpairs ofwheels. i

as is` indicated in Fig. 5, a sufiicient load at* mone corner thercofcauses that corner to move mdownwardly relative to\` the others,premising ithatno supporting force other: than thequacl nrangular frameitself is eifectve. That is,

mthisone corner :wllnleave the plane `of the -G'OthBI'tlthTG corners`which, in` eficct, neans that the platform frame assnmes a warped orndistorted ishape. i .ai Assuming then` that the corner-,at `which etheconcentrated load lV is impressed, moves downwardly, and also thatthevertical members 23wand 24 remain perpendicular to the` u members 8 atthercorresponding -ends of the W 5: :car since i the triangularConstruction comprising thetwo .bracing members 25 and the sbottomimcmber 8 may be considered to be a rigidbodyfl it will be seenthat the member 23 will `bc nclinecl` at an angle X from the :'ori'ginalverticalposition which it occupied a::andlithuswthe car itself, willassume e dis-. Utorted shape, as Ishownby the doted lines in' -Fig, 5. li

i tObviously,*the res-training 'force tending h topreventcmovementof'the car tothis distorted position lies n the force exerted by 'thevertically disposed guide rail which the' -stile 23 ;engagesw It isnnderstood that a mrsmallportion of` the:` loaclWV `is transmitted 40indirectlyl to theguide rail which the stile 24 engages, but it Will beclear that, nevertheless, l lthe major p'ortionofthe load is carried by-the vone' guide' rail engaged by` the stile ai-and theother guideraihengaged by. the stile ;r24`, contributcs a much smaller-share of`the supporting force for the load VV. The direct result of thisdistortion effect' of unsym- -metricalloadingisthe excessive wear on theone guide rail and the corresponding stile, as

well as the extra amount of power required `lto move the car. clearly,`then, from a nechanical design as well a s from a main- !tenance and acost-of-operation" standpoint, i the use of an elevator i car of theforegoing type `ofconstructon, is undesirable.

nReferring now to Fg. 6 `and assuming thata concentrated load =W isimpressed at; a corner of the` car u platform corresponding to thatcorner at which the load is impressed 35355 a rigid body. That is, morespecificallyg` efl'ect an inherent rigidity'ofthe car platsince 'members9 and 10.* do not"bend,' (the depth` of the ;members .9` and 10 issuchthat, theoretically, no bending may beassumed),

4 it willbe understood that adownward move:

ment of 'one endofmember 9, as 'when aload is'mpressed thereon,results-Ldirectlyu in a proportionate downward "movement of both endsof; member 10,` which amount' of move- .Jun It wll be understood that,with aHquadm rangular*iframe for the car platform, such-;s

ment is equal to the downward movement of the .center ofmember lowhichis,` in :tur-n",

;equal to the amount of downward movement of the center of-member 9,since the centers .of the two members 9 and"l0umay,for the ,purposc'ofour analysis, be consideredaiden tical. Thus, members 9 and 10.cause'the car platform to be, in effecta rigid body, since all fourcorners of the platform frame re- ,main always in the sameplane. Aswill(be remenbered, this was notvtrue of the car members 25. and the member8 on oneend and the two members 26` and' the member& on the other endmaybe consiclered rigid bodies, it follcws that, upon the impression'ofthe loadW, both of` thexstiles 23 and 2454 are causecl to inclineequal angles Y 'from` the original vertical `position which theyoccupiecl because angle Z between the endmembers 8, as shown by thedotted lines in Fig; 6, ancltheir original positions as shown sby thesolid lines, is the same oneach side 'of the `car.

r There' are several 'conclusions to `be `drawn from the fact'that themembers 23 and 24 are inclinecl equal angles Y from their originalpositions. One is that .the load isequally: distributed upon each of thestiles 23 and 24;` and, therefore, the .supporting forces .eX erteclbythe guide railswhich they engage are' equal. vAnother is that, for thesame load` WV, (otherconditions being the same in the two cases), thesupporting forces exerted by the guiderails engaging the`stiles"23 and%in -Fig, 6 are about one-half of the force exerted by the one guiderail,*'which stile 23 engagcs in Fig. 5. Another is that there is nodistortion of the shape of the car, as in Fig. 5.

s It will, therefore', be seen that my inven interfastened members,connecting 'diagonally opposite corners of the car platform, which formand the car itself and cause an equal distribution of stresses betweenthe stiles on each end of the car and the guide railswhich they-engage,aswell` as prevent distorton'of the car :and 'platform i byunsymm'etrical loading of` the car and platform.

` i Furthermore, "my invention comprises an elevator car platform inwhich a third structural member is joined to two intersecting membersconnectng diagonally opposite corners of the platform' at theintersection of the latter two members without sacrificing any of thestrength of the joint.

a I do not wish to be restricted to the specific i structural detailsand arrangem'ent of parts, as herein 'set forth,' since othermodifications thereof may be efected without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only suchlimtations shall be imposed as are set forth in the appended 'claims Iclaim as my invention: 1. In an elevator, a car including a plat- L formcomprising structural members'defining a quadrangular frame andadditional intersecting membersfastened together at their intersectionfor connecting diagonally opposit e corners of said frame to giveinherent rigidity to said frame, and a supporting 'sling for saidplatform, said sling conprisingamember disposed to pass through the*intersection of said intersecting members.

2. In an elevator, a car including a platform comprising structuralmembers defining a quadrangular frame, a supporting sling for saidplatform disposed perpendicularly thereto and comprising a pair ofstiles, .a crosshead connectng the top ends of said v stiles, a safetyplank connecting the bottom ends of said stiles and fastened to saidplatform, bracing. members connecting said platform and said stiles,intersecting members fastened together and conneoting diagonallyopposite corners of said quadrangular frame to distribute mechanicalstresses and impart ,an inherent rigidity to said car, 'the said `safetyplank extending through the intersection of said intersecting members.

3. In an e evator, a car including a platform comprising structuralmembers definng a quadrangular frame, a supporting' sling for saidplatformdisposed perpen- `dicularly thereto and comprising a pair ofstiles, a crosshead connecting the top ends of said stiles, a safetyplank connecting the bottom ends of said'stfles and fastened to saidplatform, bracing members connecting said platform and said stiles,intersecting members fastened together and connecting diagonallyopposite corners of said quadrangular frame to distribute mechanicalstresses between said pair of stiles and impart an inherent rigidity 'tosaid car, the said safety plank passing through the intersection of saidintersecting members and fastened thereto.

4:. In an elevator system, means'defining a hatchway, a car movabletherein., means for moving said car, guide rails mounted in saidhatchway for gudmg said car, said car 1ncluding a platform comprisingstructural members denng a quadrangul ar frame, said car also includinga supporting sling for said platform disposed perpendicularly theretoand comprising a pair of spacedapart 'stiles which engage said guiderails, a crosshead connecting the top ends of said stiles, a safetyplank connecting the bottom ends of said stiles and fastened to saidplatform, said car also including bracing members connecting saidplatform and said stiles and intersecting members fastened together andconnectng diagonally opposite corners of said quadrangular frame todistribute mechanical stresses between said pair of stiles and therebyimpart an inherent rigidity to said car, the said safety plank extendingthrough the intersection of said intersecting members.

5. In an elevator system, a means defining a hatchway, a car movabletherein, guide rails mounted in said hatchway for guiding said car, saidcar including a platform comprising structural members defining aquadrangular frame, said car also including a supporting sling for saidplatform disposed perpendicularly thereto and comprising a pair of spaced-apart stiles which engage said guide rails, a crosshead connectingthe top ends of said stiles, a safety plank connecting the bottom endsof said stiles and fastened to said platform, said car also includingbracing members connectingsaid platform and said stiles and intersectingmembers fastened together and connecting diagonally opposite corners ofsaid quadrangular frame to distribute the mechanical stresses between'said pair of stiles and impart an inherent rigidity to said car, thesaid safety plank eX- tending through the intersection of saidintersecting members and fastened thereto.

6. A platform comprising' a quadrangular frame and interfastenedintersecting structural members disposed to rigidly connect diagonallyopposite corners of said "frame, said structural members each having' anopening extending transversely therethrough at the intersection thereofto provide a passageway through the intersection.

7. A platform comprising a quadrangular frame and interfastenedintersecting structural members disposed to rigidly connect diagonallyopposite corners of' said frame, said structural members each having anopening extending transversely therethrough at the intersection thereofin substantially' symnetrical relation to the neutral aXis of thecorresponding member, the openings cooperating to provide a passagewaythrough the intersection.

In testimony Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12th dayof December, 1929.

WALTER H. HIMES.

